Insurance Change To Cover Educators' Raises

Salary increases in the new three- year contract for school administrators will by offset by changes in insurance plans.

David Kemp, chairman of the board of education negotiating committee, said the contract meets the town council's goal of no budget increases.

The 25 school administrators covered by the agreement will get a 1.5 percent increase the first year of the contract and 1.9 percent increases in each of the next two years. Kemp said changes in the insurance package -- either increased co-payments or a new type of plan -- will offset the increases.

And because some administrators have agreed to switch to the new insurance plan this year, the board of education will save money even before the contract takes effect on July 1, 1997.

Kemp described the negotiations as tough. He said nine meetings were held during the last few months before a state-appointed mediator was called in to work out an agreement. He said he considered the deal successful because the state average for administrators' salary increases reached this year is 2.6 percent for the first year and 2.3 percent for each of the next two years.

The board of education approved the contract this week. It will now be sent to the town clerk. The town council has 30 days to take action on the contract.